Systems and methods for designing and manufacturing custom immobilization molds for use in medical procedures

ABSTRACT

Described herein are systems and methods of processing immobilization molds for application of treatment, A computing system may generate a three-dimensional mold model of immobilization mold within with a subject is to be positioned for application of a treatment. The computing system may subtract a three-dimensional scan of at least a portion of the subject from the three-dimensional mold model to define an opening therein. The computing system may remove, from the three-dimensional mold model, a first portion to define an imprint in the opening from a first axis along which the subject is to enter. The computing system may remove, from a second portion of the three-dimensional mold model remaining with the removal of the first portion, inward protrusions into the imprint of relative to the second axis intersecting the first axis.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 120 as a continuationof U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/634,465, titled “SYSTEMS ANDMETHODS FOR DESIGNING AND MANUFACTURING CUSTOM IMMOBILIZATION MOLDS FORUSE IN MEDICAL PROCEDURES,” filed Jan. 27, 2020, which is a nationalstage application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International PatentApplication No. PCT/US2018/044145, titled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FORDESIGNING AND MANUFACTURING CUSTOM IMMOBILIZATION MOLDS FOR USE INMEDICAL PROCEDURES,” filed Jul. 27, 2018, which claims priority underPCT Article 8 and PCT Rule 4.10 to U.S. Patent Provisional Application62/538,506, titled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DESIGNING AND MANUFACTURINGCUSTOM IMMOBILIZATION MOLDS FOR USE IN MEDICAL PROCEDURES,” filed Jul.28, 2017, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates generally to the design and manufactureof custom immobilization molds specific to the subject for use inmedical procedures.

BACKGROUND

To maximize the efficacy of a treatment (e.g., radiation therapy, etc.),the treatment may be applied to a specific location of a subject over aprescribed period of time. Translation, rotation, or any other movementby the subject during the application of the treatment may reduce theefficacy of the treatment. Present attempts to restrict such movementduring treatment may include the use of enveloping receptacle to enclosethe subject therein. The enveloping receptacle, however, may incorrectlyposition the subject with respect to the specific location at which thetherapy is being applied. In addition, such techniques may lead tosignificant discomfort on the part of the subject, and in some cases,may induce adverse effects, such as claustrophobia. As such, thesetechniques may lead to suboptimal efficacy in the application of thetreatment.

SUMMARY

Various embodiments disclosed herein provide apparatuses, systems, andmethods related to the design and manufacture of custom immobilizationmolds specific to the subject for use in medical procedures, such asduring the application of radiation therapy or during medical imagingand/or scanning procedures.

The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for makingcustom immobilization molds. To make a custom immobilization mold thatis specific to a given subject, a computing system may first acquire ascanned image of the subject from an imaging device. The scanned imagemay be acquired using at least one of an optical three-dimensional (3D)scan, a magnetic resonance imaging, a computed tomography scan, or amechanical measurement using a pin table, among others. The scannedimage may be of the subject lying prone or face down. The computingsystem may then convert or import the scanned image to athree-dimensional model (e.g., computer-aided design (CAD) model). Insome embodiments, to convert the scanned image to the three-dimensionalmodel, the computing system may perform contour segmentation techniqueson the scanned image.

With the three-dimensional model generated, the computing system maythen perform various image processing techniques on thethree-dimensional model. In some embodiments, the computing system mayapply a smoothing filter on the three-dimensional model to reduce noiseand other features therefrom. In some embodiments, the computing systemmay then determine a negative of the three-dimensional model bysubtraction (e.g., Boolean subtraction) to generate a mold block model.The computing system may perform additional image processing techniqueson the mold block model (e.g., additional smoothing). Using thegenerated mold block model, the computing system may performoptimization techniques to allow the subject to fit into theimmobilization mold. For each two-dimensional slice of the mold blockmodel, the computing system may partition the slice into a left portionand a right portion. In each portion, the computing system may identifya global minimum and one or more local minima. The computing system maytruncate the portion at the global minimum toward the side for insertingthe subject into the mold. The computing system may identify one or moreundercuts between pairs of local minima. The computing system may thenremove the identified one or more undercuts from the remaining portionof the slice, thereby allowing easier manufacturing and permitting thesubject to fit into the mold once it is formed.

In addition, the computing system may identify one or more locations inthe mold block model to insert one or more accessories. Accessories mayinclude restraining tensioners, retention blocks, and probes (e.g.,ultrasound probes), among others. The one or more locations may beprecisely determined by the computing system to allow the one or moreaccessories to fit against the subject once in the immobilization mold.In addition to identifying the locations, the orientation and alignmentof any openings, slots, or regions within which such accessories areinserted may also be determined. In some embodiments, the preciseposition and alignment of the probe may allow the probe to be in contactwith a surface (for example, skin) of the subject. In some embodiments,the computing system may remove portions of the model to accommodate theaccessories.

Having generated the mold block model, the computing system may transferthe mold block model to a mold generator. The mold generator in turn mayprocess and manufacture the physical immobilization mold using the moldblock model. The mold generator may be a subtractive manufacturingdevice (e.g., a milling machine) or an additive manufacturing device(e.g., a three-dimensional printer) among others. In some embodiments,if the mold generator is a subtractive manufacturing device such as amilling machine, the mold generator may take a block mold and removeportions of the block mold corresponding to an imprint or a cavity toplace the subject. In some embodiments, if the mold generator is anadditive manufacturing device such as a three-dimensional printer, themold generator may deposit material in the shape for the imprint orcavity to place the subject. The material used to manufacture the moldmay have specific physical properties, such as ductility, plasticity,viscosity, elasticity, strain, strength, toughness, and viscoelasticity,among others. The material used to manufacture the mold may beradiolucent, radio-transparent, or radiopaque, among others depending onthe type of medical procedure the mold is being used for. With theimmobilization mold generated, a subject may be positioned within themold for application of a therapy.

At least one aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a systemfor processing immobilization molds for application of treatment. Thesystem may include a mold model generator executable on a computingsystem having one or more processor and memory. The mold model generatormay generate a three-dimensional mold model of immobilization moldwithin with a subject is to be positioned for application of atreatment. The three-dimensional mold model may be generated bysubtracting, from a first composite space of the three-dimensional moldmodel, a second composite space corresponding to a three-dimensionalscan of at least a portion of the subject to define an opening withinthe three-dimensional mold model. The three-dimensional mold model maybe generated by removing, from the three-dimensional mold model, todefine an imprint in the opening, a first portion along a first axis inwhich the subject is to enter the immobilization mold. Thethree-dimensional mold model may be generated by identifying, from asecond portion of the three-dimensional mold model remaining after theremoval of the first portion, one or more inward protrusions into theimprint of the three-dimensional mold model relative to a second axisintersecting the first axis. The three-dimensional mold model may begenerated by removing, from the three-dimensional mold model, theidentified one or more inward protrusions relative to the second axis.

In some embodiments, the system may include an accessory positionerexecutable on the computing system. In some embodiments, the accessorypositioner may identify, within the three-dimensional mold model, aposition at which to insert an accessory into the immobilization mold.The accessory may include at least one of a tensioner, an anchoringmechanism, a sensor, a probe, or a treatment application device. In someembodiments, the accessory positioner may determine a third portionabout the position within the three-dimensional mold model correspondingto dimensions of the accessory to be inserted. In some embodiments, theaccessory positioner may remove the third portion of at least a part ofthe second portion of the three-dimensional mold model for insertion ofthe accessory. In some embodiments, the accessory positioner may add thethird portion to the three-dimensional mold model for insertion of theaccessory.

In some embodiments, the mold model generator may generate thethree-dimensional mold model by identifying a plurality oftwo-dimensional slices of the three-dimensional mold model aftersubtracting of the second composite space. In some embodiments, the moldmodel generator may, for each two-dimensional slice of thethree-dimensional mold model after subtracting of the second compositespace, generate the three-dimensional mold model by: identifying a firstsection and a second section of to divide the opening about the firstaxis; determining a first global extremum from the first section and asecond global extremum from the second section within the openingrelative to the second axis; and removing, from the three-dimensionalmold, the first portion in the first section from the first globalextremum relative to the first axis and the first portion in the secondsection from the second global extremum relative to the first axis.

In some embodiments, the mold model generator may generate thethree-dimensional mold model by identifying a plurality oftwo-dimensional slices of the three-dimensional mold model aftersubtracting of the second composite space. In some embodiments, the moldmodel generator may, for each two-dimensional slice of thethree-dimensional mold model after subtracting of the second compositespace, generate the three-dimensional mold model by: identifying a firstsection and a second section to divide the opening about the first axis;determining a first plurality of extrema in the first section within theopening and a second plurality of extrema in the second section withinthe opening relative to the second axis; identifying, in the firstsection, a first inward protrusion of the one or more inward protrusionsin the three-dimensional mold model at the two-dimensional slice basedon the first plurality of extrema; identifying, in the second section, asecond inward protrusion of the one or more inward protrusions in thethree-dimensional mold model at the two-dimensional slice based on thesecond plurality of extrema; and removing the first inward protrusionand the second inward protrusion from the two-dimensional slice of thethree-dimensional mold model.

In some embodiments, the mold model generator may generate thethree-dimensional mold model by identifying a plurality oftwo-dimensional slices of the three-dimensional mold model aftersubtracting of the second composite space. In some embodiments, the moldmodel generator may generate the three-dimensional mold model byidentifying, for each two-dimensional slice of the three-dimensionalmold model after subtracting of the second composite space, one or morecontiguous portions of the opening defined by subtracting the secondcomposite space corresponding to the three-dimensional scan of thesubject. In some embodiments, the mold model generator may generate thethree-dimensional mold model by identifying, for each contiguousportion, a first section and a second section to divide the contiguousportion to remove the first portion and one or more inward protrusions.

In some embodiments, the system may include a mold model optimizerexecutable on the computing system. In some embodiments, the mold modeloptimizer may identify a manufacturing modality of a mold generator tomanufacture the immobilization mold in accordance with thethree-dimensional model. The manufacturing modality may include at leastone of a subtractive manufacturing and an additive manufacturing. Insome embodiments, the mold model optimizer may modify thethree-dimensional mold model based on the identified manufacturingmodality of the mold generator.

In some embodiments, the system may include a mold model optimizerexecutable on the computing system. The mold model optimizer may applyan image processing technique to the three-dimensional mold model aftersubtraction of the second composite space and the removal the firstportion and the one or more inward protrusions. The image processingtechnique may include at least one of an autofix function, a smoothingfilter, a mesh reduction function, and a depth contrast adjustment. Insome embodiments, the system may include an imager interface executableon the computing system. The imager interface may acquire, from animaging device, a three-dimensional scan of the subject. In someembodiments, the system may include an image converter executable on thecomputing system. The image converter may convert the three-dimensionalscan of the subject to the second composite space to subtract from thefirst composite space of the three-dimensional mold model.

At least another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to amethod of processing immobilization molds for application of treatment.A computing system having one or more processors may generate athree-dimensional mold model of immobilization mold within with asubject is to be positioned for application of a treatment. Thethree-dimensional mold model may be generated by subtracting, from afirst composite space of the three-dimensional mold model, a secondcomposite space corresponding to a three-dimensional scan of at least aportion of the subject to define an opening within the three-dimensionalmold model. The three-dimensional mold model may be generated byremoving, from the three-dimensional mold model, to define an imprint inthe opening, a first portion along a first axis in which the subject isto enter the immobilization mold. The three-dimensional mold model maybe generated by identifying, from a second portion of thethree-dimensional mold model remaining after the removal of the firstportion, one or more inward protrusions into the imprint of thethree-dimensional mold model relative to a second axis intersecting thefirst axis. The three-dimensional mold model may be generated byremoving, from the three-dimensional mold model, the identified one ormore inward protrusions relative to the second axis.

In some embodiments, the computing system may identify, within thethree-dimensional mold model, a position at which to insert an accessoryinto the immobilization mold. The accessory may include at least one ofa tensioner, an anchoring mechanism, a sensor, a probe, or a treatmentapplication device. In some embodiments, the computing system maydetermine a third portion about the position within thethree-dimensional mold model corresponding to dimensions of theaccessory to be inserted. In some embodiments, the computing system mayremove the third portion of at least a part of the second portion of thethree-dimensional mold model for insertion of the accessory. In someembodiments, the computing system may add the third portion to thethree-dimensional mold model for insertion of the accessory.

In some embodiments, the computing system may generate thethree-dimensional mold model by identifying a plurality oftwo-dimensional slices of the three-dimensional mold model aftersubtracting of the second composite space. In some embodiments, thecomputing system may, for each two-dimensional slice of thethree-dimensional mold model after subtracting of the second compositespace, generate the three-dimensional mold model by: identifying a firstsection and a second section of to divide the opening about the firstaxis; determining a first global extremum from the first section and asecond global extremum from the second section within the openingrelative to the second axis; and removing, from the three-dimensionalmold, the first portion in the first section from the first globalextremum relative to the first axis and the first portion in the secondsection from the second global extremum relative to the first axis.

In some embodiments, the computing system may generate thethree-dimensional mold model by identifying a plurality oftwo-dimensional slices of the three-dimensional mold model aftersubtracting of the second composite space. In some embodiments, thecomputing system may, for each two-dimensional slice of thethree-dimensional mold model after subtracting of the second compositespace, generate the three-dimensional mold model by: identifying a firstsection and a second section to divide the opening about the first axis;determining a first plurality of extrema in the first section within theopening and a second plurality of extrema in the second section withinthe opening relative to the second axis; identifying, in the firstsection, a first inward protrusion of the one or more inward protrusionsin the three-dimensional mold model at the two-dimensional slice basedon the first plurality of extrema; identifying, in the second section, asecond inward protrusion of the one or more inward protrusions in thethree-dimensional mold model at the two-dimensional slice based on thesecond plurality of extrema; and removing the first inward protrusionand the second inward protrusion from the two-dimensional slice of thethree-dimensional mold model.

In some embodiments, the computing system may generate thethree-dimensional mold model by identifying a plurality oftwo-dimensional slices of the three-dimensional mold model aftersubtracting of the second composite space. In some embodiments, thecomputing system may generate the three-dimensional mold model byidentifying, for each two-dimensional slice of the three-dimensionalmold model after subtracting of the second composite space, one or morecontiguous portions of the opening defined by subtracting the secondcomposite space corresponding to the three-dimensional scan of thesubject. In some embodiments, the computing system may generate thethree-dimensional mold model by identifying, for each contiguousportion, a first section and a second section to divide the contiguousportion to remove the first portion and one or more inward protrusions.

In some embodiments, the computing system may identify a manufacturingmodality of a mold generator to manufacture the immobilization mold inaccordance with the three-dimensional model. The manufacturing modalitymay include at least one of a subtractive manufacturing and an additivemanufacturing. In some embodiments, the computing system may modify thethree-dimensional mold model based on the identified manufacturingmodality of the mold generator.

In some embodiments, the computing system may apply an image processingtechnique to the three-dimensional mold model after subtraction of thesecond composite space and the removal the first portion and the one ormore inward protrusions. The image processing technique may include atleast one of an autofix function, a smoothing filter, a mesh reductionfunction, and a depth contrast adjustment. In some embodiments, thecomputing system may acquire, from an imaging device, athree-dimensional scan of the subject. In some embodiments, thecomputing system may convert the three-dimensional scan of the subjectto the second composite space to subtract from the first composite spaceof the three-dimensional mold model.

At least one other aspect of the present disclosure is directed to anapparatus for application of treatment. The apparatus may include animmobilization mold. The immobilization may have a first side and asecond side. The immobilization mold may define an imprint. The imprintmay contain a subject for application of the treatment along the firstside through which the subject is to enter the immobilization mold. Theimprint may lack any inward protrusions obstructing the entrance of thesubject. The immobilization mold may define an opening through at leastone of the first side and the second side into the imprint. The openingmay hold a probe to be in contact with the subject contained in theimprint via a contact point of the opening. The probe may acquire dataor apply a treatment to a localized area on the subject about thecontact point.

In some embodiments, the probe may include a first block having asensory aperture, a second block joined to the first block via one ormore biasing elements and extrusion legs. The sensory aperture may be incontact with the subject at the contact point to acquire data or applythe treatment to the localized area. In some embodiments, theimmobilization mold may be manufactured in accordance with athree-dimensional mold model provided from a computing system. Thethree-dimensional mold model may be generated by subtracting, from afirst composite space of the three-dimensional mold model, a secondcomposite space corresponding to a three-dimensional scan of at least aportion of the subject from the first composite space to define anopening within the three-dimensional mold model. The three-dimensionalmold model may be generated by removing, from the three-dimensional moldmodel, a first portion to define the imprint in the opening from a firstaxis along which the subject is to enter the immobilization mold. Thethree-dimensional mold model may be generated by removing, from thethree-dimensional mold model, the identified one or more inwardprotrusions into the imprint relative to the second axis orthogonalfirst axis.

In some embodiments, the immobilization mold may include a cappingelement inserted into the opening to secure the probe within theopening. In some embodiments, the immobilization mold may include one ormore tensioners to restrain movement the subject contained within theimprint. In some embodiments, the immobilization mold may include one ormore retention blocks along a third side opposite of the first side toprevent movement of the immobilization mold.

It should be appreciated that all combinations of the foregoing conceptsand additional concepts discussed in greater detail below (provided suchconcepts are not mutually inconsistent) are contemplated as being partof the inventive subject matter disclosed herein. In particular, allcombinations of claimed subject matter appearing at the end of thisdisclosure are contemplated as being part of the inventive subjectmatter disclosed herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

It should be understood that the drawings primarily are for illustrativepurposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the subject matterdescribed herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale; in someinstances, various aspects of the subject matter disclosed herein may beshown exaggerated or enlarged in the drawings to facilitate anunderstanding of different features. In the drawings, like referencecharacters generally refer to like features (e.g., functionally similarand/or structurally similar elements).

FIGS. 1A and 1B are sequence diagrams depicting a summary workflow ofprocessing immobilization molds, according to an illustrativeembodiment;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting a system for processingimmobilization molds, according to an illustrative embodiment;

FIGS. 3A-3F are screenshots showing applications of various imageprocessing techniques on a mold block model in processing immobilizationmolds, according to illustrative embodiments;

FIGS. 4A-4E are screenshots showing applications of mold optimizationtechniques on a mold block model in processing immobilization molds,according to an illustrative embodiments;

FIGS. 5A-5C are screenshots showing applications of additional imageprocessing techniques on a mold block model in processing immobilizationmolds, according to illustrative embodiments;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are screenshots showing a manufactured mold, accordingto an illustrative embodiment;

FIGS. 6C and 6D are screenshots showing a mold with additionalaccessories thereon, according to an illustrative embodiment;

FIGS. 7A-7D are block diagrams depicting a sequence of inserting a probeinto the mold, according to an illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram depicting a method of processing immobilizationmolds, according to an illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 9A is a block diagram depicting an embodiment of a networkenvironment comprising client devices in communication with serverdevices;

FIG. 9B is a block diagram depicting a cloud computing environmentcomprising client devices in communication with a cloud serviceprovider; and

FIGS. 9C and 9D are block diagrams depicting embodiments of computingdevices useful in connection with the methods and systems describedherein.

The features and advantages of the concepts disclosed herein will becomemore apparent from the detailed description set forth below when takenin conjunction with the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Following below are more detailed descriptions of various conceptsrelated to, and embodiments of, inventive systems and methods forprocessing immobilization molds. It should be appreciated that variousconcepts introduced above and discussed in greater detail below may beimplemented in any of numerous ways, as the disclosed concepts are notlimited to any particular manner of implementation. Examples of specificimplementations and applications are provided primarily for illustrativepurposes.

Section A describes embodiments of designing and processing customimmobilization molds.

Section B describes a network environment and computing environmentwhich may be useful for practicing various computing related embodimentsdescribed herein.

It should be appreciated that various concepts introduced above anddiscussed in greater detail below may be implemented in any of numerousways, as the disclosed concepts are not limited to any particular mannerof implementation. Examples of specific implementations and applicationsare provided primarily for illustrative purposes.

A. Systems and Methods for Designing and Processing CustomImmobilization Molds

The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for makingcustom immobilization molds. To make a custom immobilization mold thatis specific to a given subject, a computing system may first acquire ascanned image of the subject from an imaging device. The scanned imagemay be acquired using at least one of an optical three-dimensional (3D)scan, a magnetic resonance imaging, a computed tomography scan, or amechanical measurement using a pin table, among others. The scannedimage may be of the subject lying prone or face down. The computingsystem may then convert or import the scanned image to athree-dimensional model (e.g., computer-aided design (CAD) model). Insome embodiments, to convert the scanned image to the three-dimensionalmodel, the computing system may perform contour segmentation techniqueson the scanned image.

With the three-dimensional model generated, the computing system maythen perform various image processing techniques on thethree-dimensional model. In some embodiments, the computing system mayapply a smoothing filter on the three-dimensional model to reduce noiseand other features therefrom. In some embodiments, the computing systemmay then determine a negative of the three-dimensional model bysubtraction (e.g., Boolean subtraction) to generate a mold block model.The computing system may perform additional image processing techniqueson the mold block model (e.g., additional smoothing). Using thegenerated mold block model, the computing system may performoptimization techniques to allow the subject to fit into theimmobilization mold. For each two-dimensional slice of the mold blockmodel, the computing system may partition the slice into a left portionand a right portion. In each portion, the computing system may identifya global minimum and one or more local minima. The computing system maytruncate the portion at the global minimum toward the side for insertingthe subject into the mold. The computing system may identify one or moreundercuts between pairs of local minima. The computing system may thenremove the identified one or more undercuts from the remaining portionof the slice, thereby allowing easier manufacturing and permitting thesubject to fit into the mold once it is formed.

In addition, the computing system may identify one or more locations inthe mold block model to insert one or more accessories. Accessories mayinclude restraining tensioners, retention blocks, and probes (e.g.,ultrasound probes), among others. The one or more locations may beprecisely determined by the computing system to allow the one or moreaccessories to fit against the subject once in the immobilization mold.In addition to identifying the locations, the orientation and alignmentof any openings, slots, or regions within which such accessories areinserted may also be determined. In some embodiments, the preciseposition and alignment of the probe may allow the probe to be in contactwith a surface (for example, skin) of the subject. In some embodiments,the computing system may remove portions of the model to accommodate theaccessories.

Having generated the mold block model, the computing system may transferthe mold block model to a mold generator. The mold generator in turn mayprocess and manufacture the physical immobilization mold using the moldblock model. The mold generator may be a subtractive manufacturingdevice (e.g., a milling machine) or an additive manufacturing device(e.g., a three-dimensional printer) among others. In some embodiments,if the mold generator is a subtractive manufacturing device such as amilling machine, the mold generator may take a block mold and removeportions of the block mold corresponding to an imprint or a cavity toplace the subject. In some embodiments, if the mold generator is anadditive manufacturing device such as a three-dimensional printer, themold generator may deposit material in the shape for the imprint orcavity to place the subject. The material used to manufacture the moldmay have specific physical properties, such as ductility, plasticity,viscosity, elasticity, strain, strength, toughness, and viscoelasticity,among others. The material used to manufacture the mold may beradiolucent, radio-transparent, or radiopaque, among others depending onthe type of medical procedure the mold is being used for. With theimmobilization mold generated, a subject may be positioned within themold for application of a therapy.

Referring first to FIGS. 1A and 1 , depicted is a summary sequence 100for processing immobilization molds. At stage 105A, a scanner 110 mayimage a subject 115. The scanner may acquire an image of the subject 115using three-dimensional optical scanning, a magnetic resonance imaging,a computed tomography scan, or a mechanical/tactile measurement using apin table, among others. The scanned image of the subject 115 may besent to a computing device for additional processing. At stage 105B, thecomputing device may generate a three-dimensional model 120 (e.g., acomputer-aided design (CAD) model) of the scanned image received fromthe scanner 110. At stage 105C, using the generated three-dimensionalmodel 120, the computing device may perform various image processingtechniques. As shown, the computing device may reorient thethree-dimensional model (models 120A and 120B). The computing device mayalso juxtapose the three-dimensional model of the subject to a genericmold block model (model 120C). At stage 105D, based on thejuxtaposition, the computing device may generate a negative 125 of thethree-dimension block onto the mold block model. The computing devicemay also perform additional image processing techniques on the moldblock model.

Referring now to FIG. 2 , depicted is a system 200 for processingimmobilization molds. In brief overview, the system 200 may include animmobilization mold creator system 205, an imaging device 210, and amold generator 215 to manufacture an immobilization mold 220. Theimmobilization mold creator system 205 may include an imager interface225, an image converter 230, a mold model generator 235, a mold modeloptimizer 240, and an accessory positioner 245, among others, totransfer over the mold block model 125 to the mold generator 215.

Each of the above-mentioned elements or entities is implemented inhardware, or a combination of hardware and software, in one or moreembodiments. For instance, each of these elements or entities couldinclude any application, program, library, script, task, service,process or any type and form of executable instructions executing onhardware of the system, in one or more embodiments. The hardwareincludes circuitry such as one or more processors, for example, asdescribed above in connection with FIGS. 9A-9D, in some embodiments, asdetailed in section B.

The imager interface 225 may acquire an image of the subject 115 fromthe imaging device 210 (e.g., scanner 110). The imaging device 210 maybe connected to the imager interface 225 via a wireless network or wiredcoupling. The imaging device 210 may be any type of scanner to acquireone or more two-dimensional images or a three-dimensional image (e.g.,multiple slices of two-dimensional images) of the subject 115. In someembodiments, the imaging device 210 may be an optical scanner, sometimesreferred to as a three-dimension scanner, such as a hand-held laserscanner, a structure-light scanner, a modulated light scanner, atime-of-flight laser, and a triangulation-based scanner, among others,that can generate a three−dimensional image of the subject 115. In someembodiments, the imaging device 210 may be a camera, such as a digitalsingle-lens reflex (DSLR) camera, digital single lens translucent(DSLT), or an image sensor (e.g., charge-coupled device, active pixelsensor, etc.), among others, that can generate one or moretwo-dimensional images of the subject 115. In some embodiments, theimaging device 210 may be a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scannerthat can generate a three-dimensional image of the subject 115. In someembodiments, the imaging device 210 may be a computed tomography (CT)scanner that can generate a three-dimensional image of the subject 115.In some embodiments, the imaging device 210 may be a mechanical/tactilesensor that can generate a three-dimensional image of the subject 115from pressure or weight sensed at the device 210. Upon request, theimager interface 225 may send a request to the imaging device 210 toacquire the image of the subject 115. In turn, the imaging device 210may capture the image of the subject 115 (e.g., two orthree-dimensional), and may in turn return the captured image of thesubject 115 to the imager interface 225. The imager interface 225 maysubsequently receive the image of the subject 115 from the imagingdevice 210.

Using the image of the subject 115 captured by the imaging device 210,the image converter 230 may convert the image to a three-dimensionalmodel 120. The three-dimensional subject model 120 may include compositespace corresponding to the body of the subject 115 and negative spacecorresponding to the empty space around the body of the subject 115. Theimage converter 230 may use biomedical and anatomical engineeringsoftware, such as the MIMICS INNOVATION SUITE, to perform theconversion. If the image captured by the imaging device 210 istwo-dimensional, the image converter 230 may apply variousreconstruction algorithms to generate a three-dimensional image of thesubject 115. Reconstruction algorithms may use depth cue patternrecognition (e.g., binocular disparity, focus, silhouette, shading,patterned, statistical patterns, etc.) in the one or moretwo-dimensional images to generate the three-dimensional image. Thethree-dimensional image constructed from the one or more two-dimensionalimages may include multiple slices of two-dimensional image.

Once the three-dimensional image of the subject 115 is acquired orconstructed, the image converter 230 may generate the three-dimensionalsubject model 120 using various three-dimensional modeling techniques.The composite space of the three-dimensional subject model 120 maycorrespond to an outer epidermal layer of the subject 115. The negativespace of the three-dimensional subject model 120 may correspond to theempty space around the body of the subject 115. In some embodiments, thethree-dimensional model may be a computer-aided design (CAD) model. Thethree-dimensional modeling techniques used by the image converter 230may include polygonal modeling (e.g., polygon mesh and vector graphics,etc.) or curve modeling (e.g., splines and patches, etc.), among others.

In some embodiments, the image converter 230 may apply contour detectionand/or image segmentation techniques in generating the three-dimensionalsubject model 120. If the image acquired by the imaging device 210 is anMRI scan or a CAT scan, the image converter 230 may identify an outerboundary at each scanned slice. In some embodiments, the image converter230 may use an edge detection algorithm to detect the outer boundary ateach scanned slice. The outer boundaries at each scanned slice maycorrespond to the outer epidermal layer of the subject 115. Using theouter boundaries, the image converter 230 may construct thethree-dimensional model using the previously mentioned modelingtechniques.

Referring now to FIG. 3A, depicted are screenshots 300A-300D showing anapplication of contour detection and image segmentation in generatingthe three-dimensional subject model 120. In the context of FIG. 2 , thethree-dimension image taken by the imaging device 210 may be an MRIscan. The MRI scan may include one or more slices, such as those inscreenshots 300A-300C. For each of the slices (e.g., screenshots300A-300C), the image converter 230 may identify the outer edge of theMRI of the subject 115 using contour detection techniques (e.g., edgedetection). Using the identified outer edges, the image converter 230may generate the three-dimension model of the subject 115 (e.g.,screenshot 300D). The image converter 230 may apply image segmentationtechniques, and may assign or label a portion of an entirety of thethree dimensional model corresponding to the subject 115 as a singlesegment.

Using the generated three-dimensional subject model 120, the imageconverter 230 may apply additional image processing techniques inpreparation of generating the three-dimensional mold block model 125. Insome embodiments, the image converter 230 may export to another formatfor use in another application (e.g., SPACECLAIM or MATLAB). In someembodiments, the image converter 230 may identify a portion of thethree-dimensional model 120 corresponding to the body of the subject115. In some embodiments, the portion of the three-dimensional model 120corresponding to the body of the subject 115 may be determined usingedge detection. In some embodiments, the portion of the three-dimensionmodel 120 corresponding to the body of the subject 115 may be determinedbased the labeling assigned using the image segmentation techniqueapplied previously. In some embodiments, the image converter 230 mayapply a filter (e.g. a smoothing filter) on the three-dimensionalsubject model 120 to reduce artefacts and rapid changes. In someembodiments, the image converter 230 may reorient the three-dimensionsubject model 120 to a specified axis. The specified axis may correspondto a direction in which the subject 115 will lie in the finalmanufactured immobilization mold 220.

Referring now to FIGS. 3B-3D, depicted are screenshots 305A-305C showingan application of re-orientation on the three-dimensional subject model120. In the context of FIG. 2 , in screenshot 305A, the image converter230 may receive the exported three-dimensional subject model 120. Inscreenshot 305B, the image converter 230 may identify the portion of thethree-dimension model corresponding to the body of the subject 115. Theimage converter 230 may also apply a smoothing function to thethree-dimensional subject model 120 (e.g., using a shrinkwrap functionof SPACECLAIM). In screenshot 305C, the image converter 230 may reorientthe axis of the three-dimensional subject model 120 of the body of thesubject 115.

Using the three-dimensional model, the mold model generator 235 in turnmay generate the mold block model 125 for the immobilization mold 220.To start, the mold model generator 235 may generate a generic blockmodel. The generic block model may initially include all compositespace. In some embodiments, generic block model may correspond to a rawblock from which the imprint or cavity for the subject 115 will bemilled. The mold model generator 235 may in turn combine thethree-dimensional subject model 120 with the generic block model togenerate the mold block model 125. In some embodiments, the mold modelgenerator 235 may identify a side of the three-dimensional subject model120. The side may correspond to the side of the body of the subject 115toward or along the torso of the subject 115. In some embodiments, themold model generator 235 may position or align the identified side ofthe three-dimensional subject model 120 with a side of the generic blockmodel. Once positioned or aligned, the mold model generator 235 maysubtract the composite portion of the three-dimensional subject model120 from the generic block model. In some embodiments, the mold modelgenerator 235 may perform a Boolean subtraction of the composite portionof the three-dimensional subject model 120 from the generic block modelto generate the mold block model 125.

Referring now to FIGS. 3E and 3F, shown are screenshots 310A and 310B ofa Boolean subtraction performed on the generic block model. In thecontext of FIG. 2 , in screenshot 310A, the mold model generator 235 mayposition the three-dimensional model 320 of the subject 115 within thegeneric block model 315. The mold model generator 235 may align one sideof the three-dimensional subject model 320 with the generic block model315. In screenshot 310B, the mold model generator 235 may perform aBoolean subtraction of the three-dimensional subject model 320 from thegeneric block model 315 to generate the mold block model 125 with anopening 325 corresponding to negative space.

With the mold block model 125 generated, the mold model generator 235may remove a portion of the mold block model 125 to expose the opening(e.g., opening 325 in FIG. 3F). The mold model generator 235 maytraverse each two-dimensional slice of the mold block model 125 toremove the portion to expose the opening. In some embodiments, thetraversal may be along one axis (e.g., x-axis or y-axis) or both axes(e.g., x-axis and then y-axis, or vice-versa). The mold model generator235 may in addition remove other portions from the mold block model 125to allow the subject 115 to enter into the resulting imprint or cavityin the immobilization mold 220.

At each two-dimensional slice, the mold model generator 235 may identifyeach opening. The opening may correspond to negative or empty spacewithin the model block model 125. In some embodiments, the mold modelgenerator 235 may identify one or more continuous portions of thethree-dimensional model corresponding to the subject 115 (e.g.,three-dimensional subject model 320) at each slice. For each contiguousportion or opening, the mold model generator 235 may identify a midlinebisecting the contiguous portion or the opening to divide the contiguousportion or the opening into two congruent parts. The two portions may besubstantially congruent in area, deviating 0% to 20% from each other inarea. In some embodiments, the mold model generator 235 may partitionthe contiguous portion or the opening about the midline for processingthe three-dimensional model or the opening in the mold block model 125to generate a first half and a second half of the slice. The mold modelgenerator 235 may then process the first half and the second halfseparately in removing the portion of the mold model block 125. In someembodiments, the mold model generator 235 may divide each contiguousportion or opening into multiple congruent or non-congruent portions toprocess separately.

Referring now to FIGS. 4A-4E, depicted are screenshots showing thesequence of removing the portion of the mold block model 125 to exposethe opening. Referring now to FIG. 4A, shown is one slice 400 of athree-dimensional subject generated by the image converter 230. Theentirety of 400 may correspond to a layer or slice of a mold block model125 and in turn may also correspond to a layer or slice of the to-begenerated immobilization mold 220. The mold model generator 235 mayidentify the contiguous portion 410C corresponding to a portion of thebody of the subject 115. The mold model generator 235 may identify amidline 415 along the contiguous portion 405 of the three-dimensionalsubject model. The mold model generator 235 may partition the slice 400along the identified midline 415 to a left side 410L (corresponding to aleft side of the subject 115) and a right side 410R (corresponding to aright side of the subject 115). The mold model generator 235 may thenprocess the left side 410L and the right side 410R separately. As willbe discussed below, the mold model generator 235 may process each side410L and 410R from one end to another (e.g., top-down, bottom-up,left-to-right, right-to-left, etc.). On the left side 410L, the moldmodel generator 235 may identify point 405 as an extrema along the outeredge of the contiguous portion 410C corresponding to the body of thesubject 115. The mold model generator 235 may remove the portion 410Rabove the point 405 and to left of the contiguous portion 410C. The moldmodel generator 235 may also remove portion 410P above the point 405 andabove the contiguous portion 410C of the mold block model 125 to exposethe opening or the contiguous portion 410C.

Referring now to FIGS. 4B and 4C, shown is one slice 420 of athree-dimensional subject model generated by the image converter 230. Inthe scenario depicted in FIGS. 4B and 4C, the slice 420 of thethree-dimensional subject model may have multiple contiguous portions425A-425C. The first portion 425A may correspond to a left arm of thesubject 115. The second portion 425B may correspond to a torso of thesubject 115. The third portion 425C may correspond to a right arm of thesubject 115. The first portion 425A may be separated from the secondportion 425B by a distance indicated by 435A. The second portion 425Bmay be separated from the third portion 425C by a distance indicated by435B. For each contiguous portion 425A-425C, the mold model generator235 may identify a respective midline 430A-430C bisecting thecorresponding portion 425A-425C to divide into roughly congruent halves.

Returning back to FIG. 2 , at each half for each slice, the mold modelgenerator 235 may identify a global extremum and one or more localextrema of the opening in the mold block model 125 relative to themidline or a side of the slice opposite of the midline. In someembodiments, the mold model generator 235 may identify a global minimumand one or more local minima of the mold block model 125 relative to theside of the slice opposite of the midline. The global minimum maycorrespond to the maximum width-wise protrusion of the body surface ofthe subject 115 in the to-be generated mold 220. The one or more localminima may correspond to other width-wise protrusions of the body of thesubject 115 n the to-be generated mold 220. In some embodiments, themold model generator 235 may identify a global maximum and one or morelocal maxima of the mold block model 125 relative to the midline. Theglobal maximum may correspond to the maximum width-wise protrusion ofthe body surface of the subject 115 in the to-be generated mold 220. Theone or more local maxima may correspond to other width-wise protrusionsof the body of the subject 115 n the to-be generated mold 220. In someembodiments, the mold model generator 235 may identify an initial pointor terminal point of the opening in the mold block model 125 at eachhalf of each slice. From the initial point or the terminal point, themold model generator 235 may commence identification of the globalextremum and the one or more local extrema.

With the global extremum and the one or more local extrema of each halfof each slice identified, the mold model generator 235 may remove one ormore portions of the mold block model 125. In some embodiments, the moldmodel generator 235 may select or identify a side in which the subject115 is to enter the immobilization mold 220. The selection of the sideof the immobilization mold 220 may be in accordance to the specifiedtreatment. In some embodiments, the mold model generator 235 may removethe one or more portions of the mold block model 125 from the side inwhich the subject 115 is to enter. For each half of the slice, the moldmodel generator 235 may identify the global extremum (e.g., the globalmaximum or global minimum). Along the global extremum relative to a sideperpendicular to identified midline, the mold model generator 235 mayremove a portion of the mold block model 125 to expose the opening. Theportion removed may correspond to an outer face of the mold block model125 corresponding to the side of the to-be manufactured immobilizationmold 220 in which the subject 115 will lie in. The mold model generator235 may also identify a pair of local extrema (e.g., two local maxima ortwo local minima). In some embodiments, the mold model generator 235 mayidentify a pair of extrema including the global extrema and one of thelocal extremum. Using the pair of local extrema, the mold modelgenerator 235 may remove the portion of the mold block model 125 betweenthe pair of local extrema. In this manner, the subject 115 may not beprevented from entering into the imprint or cavity on the mold 220.

Referring now to FIGS. 4D and 4E, shown are block diagrams of the moldblock model 440 with portions removed. Starting with FIG. 4D, in thecontext of FIG. 2 , the mold model generator 235 may identify a slice440 of the mold block model 125. The mold model generator 235 mayidentify a midline 445 that bisects the opening in the slice 440 into aleft half and a right half. On each half, the mold model generator 235may identify global extremum and one or more local extrema relative tothe midline 445 along an axis 445. On the right half of the midline 445,the mold model generator 235 may identify a global extremum point 455Aand a local extremum point 455B. On the left half of the midline 445,the mold model generator 235 may identify one global extreme point 455C.Moving onto FIG. 4E, the mold model generator 235 may remove a portionof the model mold 125 for the slice 440 above the global extremum point455C on the left half of the slice 440 and above the global extremumpoint 455A on the right half of the slice 440 to expose the opening ofthe mold block model 125 to define an imprint 470. The mold modelgenerator 235 may identify a portion 460 of the mold model 125 at theslice 440 extruding between the local extremum point 455A and globalextremum point 455B on the right half of the slice 440. The portion 460may itself be about a local extremum (e.g., a local maximum). Onceidentified, the mold model generator 235 may remove the portion 460extruding between the pair of extrema 455A and 455B. In this manner, theimmobilization mold 220 may lack any intermedial protrusions (e.g.,portion 460) along the walls of the imprint 470, allowing a body 465 ofthe subject 115 to fully enter into the imprint 470 of the to-bemanufactured immobilization mold 220 without being prevented byextruding portions.

Subsequently, the mold model optimizer 240 may perform additional imageprocessing techniques to the mold block model 125. Referring now toFIGS. 5A-5C, shown are screenshots 500A-500C showing applications ofadditional image processing techniques on mold block model 125. In someembodiments, the mold model optimizer 240 may add composite space to themold block model 125 to make the mold block model 125 watertight (e.g.,using the auto fix function in SPACECLAIM as in screenshot 500A of FIG.5A). In some embodiments, the mold model optimizer 240 may apply asmoothing filter on the mold block model 125 (e.g., using wrap functionset at 1 mm in SPACECLAIM as in screenshot 500B of FIG. 5B). In someembodiments, the mold model optimizer 240 may reduce a number of meshesor curves in modeling the mold block model 125 (e.g., using the reducefunction of SPACECLAIM as in screenshot 500C of FIG. 5C). In someembodiments, the mold model optimizer 240 may increase or decrease thedepth of the mold block model 125.

In some embodiments, the mold model optimizer 240 may identify amanufacturing modality of the mold generator 215. The manufacturingmodality may be one of subtractive manufacturing (e.g., milling orgrinding, etc.) or additive manufacturing (e.g., three-dimensionalprinting). Based on the manufacturing modality of the mold generator215, the mold model optimizer 240 may further add or remove portionsfrom the mold block model 125. If the manufacturing modality issubtractive manufacturing, the mold model optimizer 240 may maintain thegenerated mold block model 125 as is. If the manufacturing modality isadditive manufacturing, the mold model optimizer 240 may remove one ormore portions of the mold block model 125 that are not co-planar with atleast a portion of the three-dimensional subject model 120 relative tothe mold block model 125.

One or more accessories may be inserted, affixed, or otherwise addedinto the to-be generated mold 220. The one or more accessories mayinclude one or more tensioners (e.g., straps) to restrain the subject110, one or more anchoring mechanism (e.g., retention blocks) to helpthe to-be-generated mold 220 be affixed to the operating table, one ormore sensors or probes, and one or more therapy application devices(e.g., for applying e.g., radiotherapy, sound therapy, magnetic therapy,mechanical therapy, electrotherapy, or temperature therapy, etc. on thesubject 115), among others. To that end, the accessory positioner 245may identify or set a position in the mold model block 120 for the eachaccessory. Each accessor may be defined in accordance to a schematic.The schematic may specify dimensions for the accessory and dimensionsfor an opening to hold, fit, or insert the accessory within theimmobilization mold 220. In some embodiments, the schematic may specifyaddition of composition portions to hold the accessory into theimmobilization mold 220. The schematics for the accessories may bestored and maintained on the immobilization mold creator system 205. Theaccessory position 245 may receive or identify a selection of one ormore accessories to be included into the immobilization mold 220. Theselection may include a position at which the accessory is to beincluded into the immobilization mold. The accessory positioner 245 mayidentify the schema corresponding to the selected accessory. Theaccessory positioner 245 may identify the dimensions for the accessoryor the dimensions for the opening to insert the accessory from theschematic. Using the dimensions specified by the schematic for theaccessory, the accessory positioner 245 may remove a portion in the moldblock model 125 for inserting each accessory. In some embodiments,accessory positioner 245 may add a composite portion in the mold blockmodel 125 for inserting the accessory. In some embodiments, theaccessory positioner 245 may identify the composite portions to be addedfrom the schematic for the accessory. The portion added or removed fromthe mold block model 125 may be configured to hold the accessory. Insome embodiments, the accessory positioner 245 may determine thecomposite portions to be added based on the dimensions of the accessory.The portion added or removed from the mold block model 125 maycorrespond to the dimensions of the accessory.

With the mold block model 125 fully generated and modified, the moldgenerator 235 may send the mold block model 125 to the mold generator215. The mold generator 215 may be an additive manufacturing device(e.g., three-dimensional printer) or a subtractive manufacturing device(e.g., miller or grinder device). In some embodiments, the moldgenerator 215 may be a three-dimensional printer device (e.g., extrusiondeposition, granular material binding, lamination, photo-polymerization,or powder-fed directed energy deposition, etc.) to deposit material toform the immobilization mold 220. In some embodiments, if athree-dimensional printer device is used as the mold generator 215, themold generator 215 may print an outline support (e.g., gridded supportstructure along the mesh or curves of the mold block model 125), ratherthan an imprint or cavity in a block. In some embodiments, if athree-dimensional printer device is used as the mold generator 215, themold generator 215 may print a block with an imprint or cavity for thesubject 115. In some embodiments, the mold generator 215 may be amilling machine using computer numerical control (CNC) techniques toremove material from a block of material to form the immobilization mold220. In some embodiments, the mold generator 215 may be a grindingdevice using an abrasive tool (e.g., grinding wheel) to remove materialfrom a block of material to form the immobilization mold 220. Thematerial used to manufacture the immobilization mold 220 may havespecific physical properties, such as a set ductility, plasticity,viscosity, elasticity, strain, strength, toughness, and viscoelasticity,among others. In some embodiments, the material used to manufacture theimmobilization mold 220 may be hard matter (e.g., ceramics, metals,etc.) to hold the subject 115. The material used to manufacture theimmobilization mold 220 may have a specific radiodensity, such as a setrate for radiolucency, radio-transparency, or radiopaqueness, amongothers. In some embodiments, the material can be selected based on themedical procedure for which the mold is being used. For instance, themold may be made from a radiopaque material to block certain radiationsif so desired. Alternatively, the mold may be made from aradiotranslucent material to allow radiation to pass through the mold.In addition, the material may be one that can be milled usingconventional CNC milling machines. In the case of 3D printing, thematerial may be one can be used to deposit layers for producing a 3Dprinted mold. In addition, the material may allow for compression toprovide comfort to the subject but still be firm enough to restrainmovement of the subject, or immobilize the subject.

Referring now to FIGS. 6A and 6B, shown are screenshots 600A-600E of thefinalized immobilization mold 220 manufactured by the mold generator215. Starting with FIG. 6A, the shown immobilization mold 220 mayinclude an imprint or cavity in the shape of the patient 115 cut to thedepth of the global extremum at each layer and with any undercutscorresponding to a portion between a pair of extrema removed. In FIG.6B, depicted is the placement of the patient 115 within theimmobilization mold 220 from various angles. As illustrated, the patient115 may be placed fixed and stationary within the immobilization mold220. In this manner, the therapy (e.g., radiotherapy, heat therapy,electromagnetic therapy, magnetic therapy, sound therapy, etc.) may beassured to be applied and localized to the designated spot along thebody of the patient 115.

Subsequent to generating the immobilization mold 220, the one or moreaccessories may be added to the mold 220 by the mold generator 215 oranother device. Referring now to FIGS. 6C and 6D, shown are screenshots600F and 600G showing the immobilization mold 220 with additionalaccessories thereon. In FIG. 6C, accessories may be inserted into themold 220 to include two tensioners, such as a forehead strap 610A and achin strap 610B. In FIG. 6D, additional accessories may be added to themold 220 to include four retention blocks 620A-620D.

Referring now to FIGS. 7A-7D, shown are block diagrams depicting asequence of inserting a probe 700 (e.g., ultrasound probe) into the mold220. As seen in FIG. 7A, the probe 700 may include a sensory aperture705, a first block 710, a second block 715, a set of extrusion legs720A-720D, a set of biasing elements 725A-725D, and a set of supportholes 730A-730D. The first block 710 may include a sensory aperture 705.The sensory aperture 705 may be one end of a sensor intended to beindirect contact with the subject 115 while lying in the imprint orcavity of the mold 220. The second block 715 may include additionalsensor components, such as an input/output interface configured to beconnected to another device. The biasing elements 725A-725D may includea spring mechanism (e.g., tension/extension, compression, torsion,variable spring) to allow for flexibility in addition to adherencebetween the first block 710 and the second block 715. The biasingelements 725A-725D may be placed such that the elements 725A-725 extendfrom the extrusion legs 720A-720D into the support holes 730A-730D. Eachcomponent of the probe 700 may be assembled or joined as seen in FIG.7B.

Once assembled, the probe 700 may be inserted into the mold 220 in themanner shown in FIGS. 7C and 7D. An opening may have been made by themold generator 215 or another device into the immobilization mold 220 toform a contact end 735 and an insertion end 740. The probe 700 may beinserted into the insertion end 740, and may be capped with a cappingelement 745. The sensory aperture 705 may be exposed through the contactend 735. When the subject 115 lies into the imprint or cavity of themold 220, the sensory aperture 705 may be in contact with the subject115. Once inserted and operational, data gathered from the probe 700 maybe used to adjust the application of the therapy onto the subject 115(e.g., increase, decrease, or terminate dosage). The data may be used toalso modify future manufacturing of the molds for the subject 115. Inthis manner, the sensory aperture 705 of the probe 700 may be placed incontact with the outer surface of the body of the subject 115.Additionally, the biasing elements 725A-725D may allow for the sensoryaperture 705 to be in constant contact with the outer surface of thebody of the subject 115, as the outer surface contracts or expands withthe breathing of the subject 115. Furthermore, as the probe 700 may besituated within the mold 220 and enclosed by a capping element 745(e.g., as shown in FIGS. 7C and 7D), the probe 700 may be remainrelative stationary or secure.

Referring now to FIG. 8 , depicted is a method 800 of processingimmobilization molds, according to an illustrative embodiment. Thefunctionalities of method 800 may be performed by the immobilizationmold creator system 200 as detailed in conjunction with FIG. 2 or thecomputing system 900 described in conjunction with FIGS. 9A-9D. In briefoverview, at step 805, the computing device may scan a subject. At step810, the computing device may perform contour detection and imagesegmentation to generate a three-dimensional model. At step 815, thecomputing device may apply a smoothing filter onto the three-dimensionalmodel. At step 820, the computing device may create a generic blockmodel. At step 825, the computing device may subtract thethree-dimensional model of the subject from the generic block model. Atstep 830, the computing device may identify undercuts in an opening inthe block model. At step 835, the computing device may remove theidentified undercuts in the opening in the block model. At step 840, thecomputing device may manufacture an immobilization mold based on theblock model using milling or three-dimensional printing.

B. Computing and Network Environment

It may be helpful to describe aspects of the operating environment aswell as associated system components (e.g., hardware elements) inconnection with the methods and systems described herein. Referring toFIG. 9A, an embodiment of a network environment is depicted. In briefoverview, the illustrated exploring network environment includes one ormore clients 902 a-902 n (also generally referred to as local machine(s)902, client(s) 902, client node(s) 902, client machine(s) 902, clientcomputer(s) 902, client device(s) 902, endpoint(s) 902, or endpointnode(s) 902) in communication with one or more servers 906 a-906 n (alsogenerally referred to as server(s) 906, node 906, or remote machine(s)906) via one or more networks 904. In some embodiments, a client 902 hasthe capacity to function as both a client node seeking access toresources provided by a server and as a server providing access tohosted resources for other clients 902 a-902 n.

Although FIG. 9A shows a network 904 between the clients 902 and theservers 906, the clients 902 and the servers 906 may be on the samenetwork 904. In some embodiments, there are multiple networks 904between the clients 902 and the servers 906. In one of theseembodiments, a network 904′ (not shown) may be a private network and anetwork 904 may be a public network. In another of these embodiments, anetwork 904 may be a private network and a network 904′ a publicnetwork. In still another of these embodiments, networks 904 and 904′may both be private networks.

The network 904 may be connected via wired or wireless links. Wiredlinks may include Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), coaxial cable lines, oroptical fiber lines. The wireless links may include BLUETOOTH, Wi-Fi,NFC, RFID Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), aninfrared channel or satellite band. The wireless links may also includeany cellular network standards used to communicate among mobile devices,including standards that qualify as 1G, 2G, 3G, or 4G. The networkstandards may qualify as one or more generation of mobiletelecommunication standards by fulfilling a specification or standardssuch as the specifications maintained by International TelecommunicationUnion. The 3G standards, for example, may correspond to theInternational Mobile Telecommunications-2000 (IMT-2000) specification,and the 4G standards may correspond to the International MobileTelecommunications Advanced (IMT-Advanced) specification. Examples ofcellular network standards include AMPS, GSM, GPRS, UMTS, LTE, LTEAdvanced, Mobile WiMAX, and WiMAX-Advanced. Cellular network standardsmay use various channel access methods e.g. FDMA, TDMA, CDMA, or SDMA.In some embodiments, different types of data may be transmitted viadifferent links and standards. In other embodiments, the same types ofdata may be transmitted via different links and standards.

The network 904 may be any type and/or form of network. The geographicalscope of the network 904 may vary widely and the network 904 can be abody area network (BAN), a personal area network (PAN), a local-areanetwork (LAN), e.g. Intranet, a metropolitan area network (MAN), a widearea network (WAN), or the Internet. The topology of the network 904 maybe of any form and may include, e.g., any of the following:point-to-point, bus, star, ring, mesh, or tree. The network 904 may bean overlay network, which is virtual and sits on top of one or morelayers of other networks 904′. The network 904 may be of any suchnetwork topology as known to those ordinarily skilled in the art capableof supporting the operations described herein. The network 904 mayutilize different techniques and layers or stacks of protocols,including, e.g., the Ethernet protocol, the internet protocol suite(TCP/IP), the ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) technique, the SONET(Synchronous Optical Networking) protocol, or the SDH (SynchronousDigital Hierarchy) protocol. The TCP/IP internet protocol suite mayinclude application layer, transport layer, internet layer (including,e.g., IPv6), or the link layer. The network 904 may be a type of abroadcast network, a telecommunications network, a data communicationnetwork, or a computer network.

In some embodiments, the system may include multiple, logically-groupedservers 906. In one of these embodiments, the logical group of serversmay be referred to as a server farm 38 or a machine farm 38. In anotherof these embodiments, the servers 906 may be geographically dispersed.In other embodiments, a machine farm 38 may be administered as a singleentity. In still other embodiments, the machine farm 38 includes aplurality of machine farms 38. The servers 906 within each machine farm38 can be heterogeneous one or more of the servers 906 or machines 906can operate according to one type of operating system platform (e.g.,WINDOWS NT, manufactured by Microsoft Corp. of Redmond, Wash.), whileone or more of the other servers 906 can operate on according to anothertype of operating system platform (e.g., Unix, Linux, or Mac OS X).

In one embodiment, servers 906 in the machine farm 38 may be stored inhigh-density rack systems, along with associated storage systems, andlocated in an enterprise data center. In this embodiment, consolidatingthe servers 906 in this way may improve system manageability, datasecurity, the physical security of the system, and system performance bylocating servers 906 and high performance storage systems on localizedhigh performance networks. Centralizing the servers 906 and storagesystems and coupling them with advanced system management tools allowsmore efficient use of server resources.

The servers 906 of each machine farm 38 do not need to be physicallyproximate to another server 906 in the same machine farm 38. Thus, thegroup of servers 906 logically grouped as a machine farm 38 may beinterconnected using a wide-area network (WAN) connection or ametropolitan-area network (MAN) connection. For example, a machine farm38 may include servers 906 physically located in different continents ordifferent regions of a continent, country, state, city, campus, or room.Data transmission speeds between servers 906 in the machine farm 38 canbe increased if the servers 906 are connected using a local-area network(LAN) connection or some form of direct connection. Additionally, aheterogeneous machine farm 38 may include one or more servers 906operating according to a type of operating system, while one or moreother servers 906 execute one or more types of hypervisors rather thanoperating systems. In these embodiments, hypervisors may be used toemulate virtual hardware, partition physical hardware, virtualizedphysical hardware, and execute virtual machines that provide access tocomputing environments, allowing multiple operating systems to runconcurrently on a host computer. Native hypervisors may run directly onthe host computer. Hypervisors may include VMware ESX/ESXi, manufacturedby VMWare, Inc., of Palo Alto, Calif.; the Xen hypervisor, an opensource product whose development is overseen by Citrix Systems, Inc.;the HYPER-V hypervisors provided by Microsoft or others. Hostedhypervisors may run within an operating system on a second softwarelevel. Examples of hosted hypervisors may include VMware Workstation andVIRTUALBOX.

Management of the machine farm 38 may be de-centralized. For example,one or more servers 906 may comprise components, subsystems and modulesto support one or more management services for the machine farm 38. Inone of these embodiments, one or more servers 906 provide functionalityfor management of dynamic data, including techniques for handlingfailover, data replication, and increasing the robustness of the machinefarm 38. Each server 906 may communicate with a persistent store and, insome embodiments, with a dynamic store.

Server 906 may be a file server, application server, web server, proxyserver, appliance, network appliance, gateway, gateway server,virtualization server, deployment server, SSL VPN server, or firewall.In one embodiment, the server 906 may be referred to as a remote machineor a node. In another embodiment, a plurality of nodes 290 may be in thepath between any two communicating servers.

Referring to FIG. 9B, a cloud computing environment is depicted. A cloudcomputing environment may provide client 902 with one or more resourcesprovided by a network environment. The cloud computing environment mayinclude one or more clients 902 a-902 n, in communication with the cloud908 over one or more networks 904. Clients 902 may include, e.g., thickclients, thin clients, and zero clients. A thick client may provide atleast some functionality even when disconnected from the cloud 908 orservers 906. A thin client or a zero client may depend on the connectionto the cloud 908 or server 906 to provide functionality. A zero clientmay depend on the cloud 908 or other networks 904 or servers 906 toretrieve operating system data for the client device. The cloud 908 mayinclude back end platforms, e.g., servers 906, storage, server farms ordata centers.

The cloud 908 may be public, private, or hybrid. Public clouds mayinclude public servers 906 that are maintained by third parties to theclients 902 or the owners of the clients. The servers 906 may be locatedoff-site in remote geographical locations as disclosed above orotherwise. Public clouds may be connected to the servers 906 over apublic network. Private clouds may include private servers 906 that arephysically maintained by clients 902 or owners of clients. Privateclouds may be connected to the servers 906 over a private network 904.Hybrid clouds 908 may include both the private and public networks 904and servers 906.

The cloud 908 may also include a cloud based delivery, e.g. Software asa Service (SaaS) 910, Platform as a Service (PaaS) 912, andInfrastructure as a Service (IaaS) 914. IaaS may refer to a user rentingthe use of infrastructure resources that are needed during a specifiedtime period. IaaS providers may offer storage, networking, servers orvirtualization resources from large pools, allowing the users to quicklyscale up by accessing more resources as needed. Examples of IaaS includeAMAZON WEB SERVICES provided by Amazon.com, Inc., of Seattle, Wash.,RACKSPACE CLOUD provided by Rackspace US, Inc., of San Antonio, Tex.,Google Compute Engine provided by Google Inc. of Mountain View, Calif.,or RIGHTSCALE provided by RightScale, Inc., of Santa Barbara, Calif.PaaS providers may offer functionality provided by IaaS, including,e.g., storage, networking, servers or virtualization, as well asadditional resources such as, e.g., the operating system, middleware, orruntime resources. Examples of PaaS include WINDOWS AZURE provided byMicrosoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash., Google App Engine provided byGoogle Inc., and HEROKU provided by Heroku, Inc. of San Francisco,Calif. SaaS providers may offer the resources that PaaS provides,including storage, networking, servers, virtualization, operatingsystem, middleware, or runtime resources. In some embodiments, SaaSproviders may offer additional resources including, e.g., data andapplication resources. Examples of SaaS include GOOGLE APPS provided byGoogle Inc., SALESFORCE provided by Salesforce.com Inc. of SanFrancisco, Calif., or OFFICE 365 provided by Microsoft Corporation.Examples of SaaS may also include data storage providers, e.g. DROPBOXprovided by Dropbox, Inc. of San Francisco, Calif., Microsoft SKYDRIVEprovided by Microsoft Corporation, Google Drive provided by Google Inc.,or Apple ICLOUD provided by Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.

Clients 902 may access IaaS resources with one or more IaaS standards,including, e.g., Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2), Open CloudComputing Interface (OCCI), Cloud Infrastructure Management Interface(CIMI), or OpenStack standards. Some IaaS standards may allow clientsaccess to resources over HTTP, and may use Representational StateTransfer (REST) protocol or Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP).Clients 902 may access PaaS resources with different PaaS interfaces.Some PaaS interfaces use HTTP packages, standard Java APIs, JavaMailAPI, Java Data Objects (JDO), Java Persistence API (JPA), Python APIs,web integration APIs for different programming languages including,e.g., Rack for Ruby, WSGI for Python, or PSGI for Perl, or other APIsthat may be built on REST, HTTP, XML, or other protocols. Clients 902may access SaaS resources through the use of web-based user interfaces,provided by a web browser (e.g. GOOGLE CHROME, Microsoft INTERNETEXPLORER, or Mozilla Firefox provided by Mozilla Foundation of MountainView, Calif.). Clients 902 may also access SaaS resources throughsmartphone or tablet applications, including, e.g., Salesforce SalesCloud, or Google Drive app. Clients 902 may also access SaaS resourcesthrough the client operating system, including, e.g., Windows filesystem for DROPBOX.

In some embodiments, access to IaaS, PaaS, or SaaS resources may beauthenticated. For example, a server or authentication server mayauthenticate a user via security certificates, HTTPS, or API keys. APIkeys may include various encryption standards such as, e.g., AdvancedEncryption Standard (AES). Data resources may be sent over TransportLayer Security (TLS) or Secure Sockets Layer (SSL).

The client 902 and server 906 may be deployed as and/or executed on anytype and form of computing device, e.g. a computer, network device orappliance capable of communicating on any type and form of network andperforming the operations described herein. FIGS. 9C and 9D depict blockdiagrams of a computing device 900 useful for practicing an embodimentof the client 902 or a server 906. As shown in FIGS. 9C and 9D, eachcomputing device 900 includes a central processing unit 921, and a mainmemory unit 922. As shown in FIG. 9C, a computing device 900 may includea storage device 928, an installation device 916, a network interface918, an I/O controller 923, display devices 924 a-924 n, a keyboard 926and a pointing device 927, e.g. a mouse. The storage device 928 mayinclude, without limitation, an operating system, and/or software 920.As shown in FIG. 9D, each computing device 900 may also includeadditional optional elements, e.g. a memory port 903, a bridge 970, oneor more input/output devices 930 a-930 n (generally referred to usingreference numeral 930), and a cache memory 940 in communication with thecentral processing unit 921.

The central processing unit 921 is any logic circuitry that responds toand processes instructions fetched from the main memory unit 922. Inmany embodiments, the central processing unit 921 is provided by amicroprocessor unit, e.g.: those manufactured by Intel Corporation ofMountain View, Calif.; those manufactured by Motorola Corporation ofSchaumburg, Ill.; the ARM processor and TEGRA system on a chip (SoC)manufactured by Nvidia of Santa Clara, Calif.; the POWER7 processor,those manufactured by International Business Machines of White Plains,N.Y.; or those manufactured by Advanced Micro Devices of Sunnyvale,Calif. The computing device 900 may be based on any of these processors,or any other processor capable of operating as described herein. Thecentral processing unit 921 may utilize instruction level parallelism,thread level parallelism, different levels of cache, and multi-coreprocessors. A multi-core processor may include two or more processingunits on a single computing component. Examples of multi-core processorsinclude the AMD PHENOM IIX2, INTEL CORE i5 and INTEL CORE i7.

Main memory unit 922 may include one or more memory chips capable ofstoring data and allowing any storage location to be directly accessedby the microprocessor 921. Main memory unit 922 may be volatile andfaster than storage 928 memory. Main memory units 922 may be Dynamicrandom access memory (DRAM) or any variants, including static randomaccess memory (SRAM), Burst SRAM or SynchBurst SRAM (BSRAM), Fast PageMode DRAM (FPM DRAM), Enhanced DRAM (EDRAM), Extended Data Output RAM(EDO RAM), Extended Data Output DRAM (EDO DRAM), Burst Extended DataOutput DRAM (BEDO DRAM), Single Data Rate Synchronous DRAM (SDR SDRAM),Double Data Rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), Direct Rambus DRAM (DRDRAM), orExtreme Data Rate DRAM (XDR DRAM). In some embodiments, the main memory922 or the storage 928 may be non-volatile; e.g., non-volatile readaccess memory (NVRAM), flash memory non-volatile static RAM (nvSRAM),Ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM), Magnetoresistive RAM (MRAM), Phase-changememory (PRAM), conductive-bridging RAM (CBRAM),Silicon-Oxide-Nitride-Oxide-Silicon (SONOS), Resistive RAM (RRAM),Racetrack, Nano-RAM (NRAM), or Millipede memory. The main memory 922 maybe based on any of the above described memory chips, or any otheravailable memory chips capable of operating as described herein. In theembodiment shown in FIG. 9C, the processor 921 communicates with mainmemory 922 via a system bus 950 (described in more detail below). FIG.9D depicts an embodiment of a computing device 900 in which theprocessor communicates directly with main memory 922 via a memory port903. For example, in FIG. 9D the main memory 922 may be DRDRAM.

FIG. 9D depicts an embodiment in which the main processor 921communicates directly with cache memory 940 via a secondary bus,sometimes referred to as a backside bus. In other embodiments, the mainprocessor 921 communicates with cache memory 940 using the system bus950. Cache memory 940 typically has a faster response time than mainmemory 922 and is typically provided by SRAM, BSRAM, or EDRAM. In theembodiment shown in FIG. 9D, the processor 921 communicates with variousI/O devices 930 via a local system bus 950. Various buses may be used toconnect the central processing unit 921 to any of the I/O devices 930,including a PCI bus, a PCI-X bus, or a PCI-Express bus, or a NuBus. Forembodiments in which the I/O device is a video display 924, theprocessor 921 may use an Advanced Graphics Port (AGP) to communicatewith the display 924 or the I/O controller 923 for the display 924. FIG.9D depicts an embodiment of a computer 900 in which the main processor921 communicates directly with I/O device 930 b or other processors 921′via HYPERTRANSPORT, RAPIDIO, or INFINIBAND communications technology.FIG. 9D also depicts an embodiment in which local busses and directcommunication are mixed: the processor 921 communicates with I/O device930 a using a local interconnect bus while communicating with I/O device930 b directly.

A wide variety of I/O devices 930 a-930 n may be present in thecomputing device 900. Input devices may include keyboards, mice,trackpads, trackballs, touchpads, touch mice, multi-touch touchpads andtouch mice, microphones, multi-array microphones, drawing tablets,cameras, single-lens reflex camera (SLR), digital SLR (DSLR), CMOSsensors, accelerometers, infrared optical sensors, pressure sensors,magnetometer sensors, angular rate sensors, depth sensors, proximitysensors, ambient light sensors, gyroscopic sensors, or other sensors.Output devices may include video displays, graphical displays, speakers,headphones, inkjet printers, laser printers, and 3D printers.

Devices 930 a-930 n may include a combination of multiple input oroutput devices, including, e.g., Microsoft KINECT, Nintendo Wiimote forthe WII, Nintendo WII U GAMEPAD, or Apple IPHONE. Some devices 930 a-930n allow gesture recognition inputs through combining some of the inputsand outputs. Some devices 930 a-930 n provides for facial recognitionwhich may be utilized as an input for different purposes includingauthentication and other commands. Some devices 930 a-930 n provides forvoice recognition and inputs, including, e.g., Microsoft KINECT, SIRIfor IPHONE by Apple, Google Now or Google Voice Search.

Additional devices 930 a-930 n have both input and output capabilities,including, e.g., haptic feedback devices, touchscreen displays, ormulti-touch displays. Touchscreen, multi-touch displays, touchpads,touch mice, or other touch sensing devices may use differenttechnologies to sense touch, including, e.g., capacitive, surfacecapacitive, projected capacitive touch (PCT), in-cell capacitive,resistive, infrared, waveguide, dispersive signal touch (DST), in-celloptical, surface acoustic wave (SAW), bending wave touch (BWT), orforce-based sensing technologies. Some multi-touch devices may allow twoor more contact points with the surface, allowing advanced functionalityincluding, e.g., pinch, spread, rotate, scroll, or other gestures. Sometouchscreen devices, including, e.g., Microsoft PIXELSENSE orMulti-Touch Collaboration Wall, may have larger surfaces, such as on atable-top or on a wall, and may also interact with other electronicdevices. Some I/O devices 930 a-930 n, display devices 924 a-924 n orgroup of devices may be augment reality devices. The I/O devices may becontrolled by an I/O controller 923 as shown in FIG. 9C. The I/Ocontroller may control one or more I/O devices, such as, e.g., akeyboard 926 and a pointing device 927, e.g., a mouse or optical pen.Furthermore, an I/O device may also provide storage and/or aninstallation medium 916 for the computing device 900. In still otherembodiments, the computing device 900 may provide USB connections (notshown) to receive handheld USB storage devices. In further embodiments,an I/O device 930 may be a bridge between the system bus 950 and anexternal communication bus, e.g. a USB bus, a SCSI bus, a FireWire bus,an Ethernet bus, a Gigabit Ethernet bus, a Fibre Channel bus, or aThunderbolt bus.

In some embodiments, display devices 924 a-924 n may be connected to I/Ocontroller 923. Display devices may include, e.g., liquid crystaldisplays (LCD), thin film transistor LCD (TFT-LCD), blue phase LCD,electronic papers (e-ink) displays, flexile displays, light emittingdiode displays (LED), digital light processing (DLP) displays, liquidcrystal on silicon (LCOS) displays, organic light-emitting diode (OLED)displays, active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) displays,liquid crystal laser displays, time-multiplexed optical shutter (TMOS)displays, or 3D displays. Examples of 3D displays may use, e.g.stereoscopy, polarization filters, active shutters, or autostereoscopy.Display devices 924 a-924 n may also be a head-mounted display (HMD). Insome embodiments, display devices 924 a-924 n or the corresponding I/Ocontrollers 923 may be controlled through or have hardware support forOPENGL or DTRECTX API or other graphics libraries.

In some embodiments, the computing device 900 may include or connect tomultiple display devices 924 a-924 n, which each may be of the same ordifferent type and/or form. As such, any of the I/O devices 930 a-930 nand/or the I/O controller 923 may include any type and/or form ofsuitable hardware, software, or combination of hardware and software tosupport, enable or provide for the connection and use of multipledisplay devices 924 a-924 n by the computing device 900. For example,the computing device 900 may include any type and/or form of videoadapter, video card, driver, and/or library to interface, communicate,connect or otherwise use the display devices 924 a-924 n. In oneembodiment, a video adapter may include multiple connectors to interfaceto multiple display devices 924 a-924 n. In other embodiments, thecomputing device 900 may include multiple video adapters, with eachvideo adapter connected to one or more of the display devices 924 a-924n. In some embodiments, any portion of the operating system of thecomputing device 900 may be configured for using multiple displays 924a-924 n. In other embodiments, one or more of the display devices 924a-924 n may be provided by one or more other computing devices 900 a or900 b connected to the computing device 900, via the network 904. Insome embodiments software may be designed and constructed to use anothercomputer's display device as a second display device 924 a for thecomputing device 900. For example, in one embodiment, an Apple iPad mayconnect to a computing device 900 and use the display of the device 900as an additional display screen that may be used as an extended desktop.One ordinarily skilled in the art will recognize and appreciate thevarious ways and embodiments that a computing device 900 may beconfigured to have multiple display devices 924 a-924 n.

Referring again to FIG. 9C, the computing device 900 may comprise astorage device 928 (e.g. one or more hard disk drives or redundantarrays of independent disks) for storing an operating system or otherrelated software, and for storing application software programs such asany program related to the software 920. Examples of storage device 928include, e.g., hard disk drive (HDD); optical drive including CD drive,DVD drive, or BLU-RAY drive; solid-state drive (SSD); USB flash drive;or any other device suitable for storing data. Some storage devices mayinclude multiple volatile and non-volatile memories, including, e.g.,solid state hybrid drives that combine hard disks with solid statecache. Some storage device 928 may be non-volatile, mutable, orread-only. Some storage device 928 may be internal and connect to thecomputing device 900 via a bus 950. Some storage device 928 may beexternal and connect to the computing device 900 via an I/O device 930that provides an external bus. Some storage device 928 may connect tothe computing device 900 via the network interface 918 over a network904, including, e.g., the Remote Disk for MACBOOK AIR by Apple. Someclient devices 900 may not require a non-volatile storage device 928 andmay be thin clients or zero clients 902. Some storage device 928 mayalso be used as an installation device 916, and may be suitable forinstalling software and programs. Additionally, the operating system andthe software can be run from a bootable medium, for example, a bootableCD, e.g. KNOPPIX, a bootable CD for GNU/Linux that is available as aGNU/Linux distribution from knoppix.net.

Client device 900 may also install software or application from anapplication distribution platform. Examples of application distributionplatforms include the App Store for iOS provided by Apple, Inc., the MacApp Store provided by Apple, Inc., GOOGLE PLAY for Android OS providedby Google Inc., Chrome Webstore for CHROME OS provided by Google Inc.,and Amazon Appstore for Android OS and KINDLE FIRE provided byAmazon.com, Inc. An application distribution platform may facilitateinstallation of software on a client device 902. An applicationdistribution platform may include a repository of applications on aserver 906 or a cloud 908, which the clients 902 a-902 n may access overa network 904. An application distribution platform may includeapplication developed and provided by various developers. A user of aclient device 902 may select, purchase and/or download an applicationvia the application distribution platform.

Furthermore, the computing device 900 may include a network interface918 to interface to the network 904 through a variety of connectionsincluding, but not limited to, standard telephone lines LAN or WAN links(e.g., 802.11, T1, T3, Gigabit Ethernet, Infiniband), broadbandconnections (e.g., ISDN, Frame Relay, ATM, Gigabit Ethernet,Ethernet-over-SONET, ADSL, VDSL, BPON, GPON, fiber optical includingFiOS), wireless connections, or some combination of any or all of theabove. Connections can be established using a variety of communicationprotocols (e.g., TCP/IP, Ethernet, ARCNET, SONET, SDH, Fiber DistributedData Interface (FDDI), IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac CDMA, GSM, WiMax and directasynchronous connections). In one embodiment, the computing device 900communicates with other computing devices 900′ via any type and/or formof gateway or tunneling protocol e.g. Secure Socket Layer (SSL) orTransport Layer Security (TLS), or the Citrix Gateway Protocolmanufactured by Citrix Systems, Inc. of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. The networkinterface 918 may comprise a built-in network adapter, network interfacecard, PCMCIA network card, EXPRESSCARD network card, card bus networkadapter, wireless network adapter, USB network adapter, modem or anyother device suitable for interfacing the computing device 900 to anytype of network capable of communication and performing the operationsdescribed herein.

A computing device 900 of the sort depicted in FIGS. 9B and 9C mayoperate under the control of an operating system, which controlsscheduling of tasks and access to system resources. The computing device900 can be running any operating system such as any of the versions ofthe MICROSOFT WINDOWS operating systems, the different releases of theUnix and Linux operating systems, any version of the MAC OS forMacintosh computers, any embedded operating system, any real-timeoperating system, any open source operating system, any proprietaryoperating system, any operating systems for mobile computing devices, orany other operating system capable of running on the computing deviceand performing the operations described herein. Typical operatingsystems include, but are not limited to: WINDOWS 2000, WINDOWS Server2012, WINDOWS CE, WINDOWS Phone, WINDOWS XP, WINDOWS VISTA, and WINDOWS7, WINDOWS RT, and WINDOWS 8 all of which are manufactured by MicrosoftCorporation of Redmond, Wash.; MAC OS and iOS, manufactured by Apple,Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.; and Linux, a freely-available operatingsystem, e.g. Linux Mint distribution (“distro”) or Ubuntu, distributedby Canonical Ltd. of London, United Kingdom; or Unix or other Unix-likederivative operating systems; and Android, designed by Google, ofMountain View, Calif., among others. Some operating systems, including,e.g., the CHROME OS by Google, may be used on zero clients or thinclients, including, e.g., CHROMEBOOKS.

The computer system 900 can be any workstation, telephone, desktopcomputer, laptop or notebook computer, netbook, ULTRABOOK, tablet,server, handheld computer, mobile telephone, smartphone or otherportable telecommunications device, media playing device, a gamingsystem, mobile computing device, or any other type and/or form ofcomputing, telecommunications or media device that is capable ofcommunication. The computer system 900 has sufficient processor powerand memory capacity to perform the operations described herein. In someembodiments, the computing device 900 may have different processors,operating systems, and input devices consistent with the device. TheSamsung GALAXY smartphones, e.g., operate under the control of Androidoperating system developed by Google, Inc. GALAXY smartphones receiveinput via a touch interface.

In some embodiments, the computing device 900 is a gaming system. Forexample, the computer system 900 may comprise a PLAYSTATION 3, orPERSONAL PLAYSTATION PORTABLE (PSP), or a PLAYSTATION VITA devicemanufactured by the Sony Corporation of Tokyo, Japan, a NINTENDO DS,NINTENDO 3DS, NINTENDO WII, or a NINTENDO WII U device manufactured byNintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, an XBOX 360 device manufactured bythe Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash.

In some embodiments, the computing device 900 is a digital audio playersuch as the Apple IPOD, IPOD Touch, and IPOD NANO lines of devices,manufactured by Apple Computer of Cupertino, Calif. Some digital audioplayers may have other functionality, including, e.g., a gaming systemor any functionality made available by an application from a digitalapplication distribution platform. For example, the IPOD Touch mayaccess the Apple App Store. In some embodiments, the computing device900 is a portable media player or digital audio player supporting fileformats including, but not limited to, MP3, WAV, M4A/AAC, WMA ProtectedAAC, AIFF, Audible audiobook, Apple Lossless audio file formats and.mov, .m4v, and .mp4 MPEG-4 (H.264/MPEG-4 AVC) video file formats.

In some embodiments, the computing device 900 is a tablet e.g. the IPADline of devices by Apple; GALAXY TAB family of devices by Samsung; orKINDLE FIRE, by Amazon.com, Inc. of Seattle, Wash. In other embodiments,the computing device 900 is an eBook reader, e.g. the KINDLE family ofdevices by Amazon.com, or NOOK family of devices by Barnes & Noble, Inc.of New York City, N.Y.

In some embodiments, the communications device 902 includes acombination of devices, e.g. a smartphone combined with a digital audioplayer or portable media player. For example, one of these embodimentsis a smartphone, e.g. the IPHONE family of smartphones manufactured byApple, Inc.; a Samsung GALAXY family of smartphones manufactured bySamsung, Inc; or a Motorola DROID family of smartphones. In yet anotherembodiment, the communications device 902 is a laptop or desktopcomputer equipped with a web browser and a microphone and speakersystem, e.g. a telephony headset. In these embodiments, thecommunications devices 902 are web-enabled and can receive and initiatephone calls. In some embodiments, a laptop or desktop computer is alsoequipped with a webcam or other video capture device that enables videochat and video call. In some embodiments, the communication device 902is a wearable mobile computing device including but not limited toGoogle Glass and Samsung Gear.

In some embodiments, the status of one or more machines 902, 906 in thenetwork 904 is monitored, generally as part of network management. Inone of these embodiments, the status of a machine may include anidentification of load information (e.g., the number of processes on themachine, CPU and memory utilization), of port information (e.g., thenumber of available communication ports and the port addresses), or ofsession status (e.g., the duration and type of processes, and whether aprocess is active or idle). In another of these embodiments, thisinformation may be identified by a plurality of metrics, and theplurality of metrics can be applied at least in part towards decisionsin load distribution, network traffic management, and network failurerecovery as well as any aspects of operations of the present solutiondescribed herein. Aspects of the operating environments and componentsdescribed above will become apparent in the context of the systems andmethods disclosed herein.

The description herein including modules emphasizes the structuralindependence of the aspects of the controller, and illustrates onegrouping of operations and responsibilities of the controller. Othergroupings that execute similar overall operations are understood withinthe scope of the present application. Modules may be implemented inhardware and/or as computer instructions on a non-transient computerreadable storage medium, and modules may be distributed across varioushardware or computer based components.

Example and non-limiting module implementation elements include sensorsproviding any value determined herein, sensors providing any value thatis a precursor to a value determined herein, datalink and/or networkhardware including communication chips, oscillating crystals,communication links, cables, twisted pair wiring, coaxial wiring,shielded wiring, transmitters, receivers, and/or transceivers, logiccircuits, hard-wired logic circuits, reconfigurable logic circuits in aparticular non-transient state configured according to the modulespecification, any actuator including at least an electrical, hydraulic,or pneumatic actuator, a solenoid, an op-amp, analog control elements(springs, filters, integrators, adders, dividers, gain elements), and/ordigital control elements.

Non-limiting examples of various embodiments are disclosed herein.Features from one embodiments disclosed herein may be combined withfeatures of another embodiment disclosed herein as someone of ordinaryskill in the art would understand.

As utilized herein, the terms “approximately,” “about,” “substantially”and similar terms are intended to have a broad meaning in harmony withthe common and accepted usage by those of ordinary skill in the art towhich the subject matter of this disclosure pertains. It should beunderstood by those of skill in the art who review this disclosure thatthese terms are intended to allow a description of certain featuresdescribed without restricting the scope of these features to the precisenumerical ranges provided. Accordingly, these terms should beinterpreted as indicating that insubstantial or inconsequentialmodifications or alterations of the subject matter described and areconsidered to be within the scope of the disclosure.

For the purpose of this disclosure, the term “coupled” means the joiningof two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining maybe stationary or moveable in nature. Such joining may be achieved withthe two members or the two members and any additional intermediatemembers being integrally formed as a single unitary body with oneanother or with the two members or the two members and any additionalintermediate members being attached to one another. Such joining may bepermanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in nature.

It should be noted that the orientation of various elements may differaccording to other exemplary embodiments, and that such variations areintended to be encompassed by the present disclosure. It is recognizedthat features of the disclosed embodiments can be incorporated intoother disclosed embodiments.

It is important to note that the constructions and arrangements ofapparatuses or the components thereof as shown in the various exemplaryembodiments are illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments havebeen described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the artwho review this disclosure will readily appreciate that manymodifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions,structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values ofparameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors,orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novelteachings and advantages of the subject matter disclosed. For example,elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple partsor elements, the position of elements may be reversed or otherwisevaried, and the nature or number of discrete elements or positions maybe altered or varied. The order or sequence of any process or methodsteps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternativeembodiments. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissionsmay also be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement ofthe various exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope ofthe present disclosure.

While various inventive embodiments have been described and illustratedherein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision avariety of other mechanisms and/or structures for performing thefunction and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of theadvantages described herein, and each of such variations and/ormodifications is deemed to be within the scope of the inventiveembodiments described herein. More generally, those skilled in the artwill readily appreciate that, unless otherwise noted, any parameters,dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant tobe exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials,and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application orapplications for which the inventive teachings is/are used. Thoseskilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no morethan routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific inventiveembodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood thatthe foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that,within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto,inventive embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specificallydescribed and claimed. Inventive embodiments of the present disclosureare directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit,and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two ormore such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods,if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods arenot mutually inconsistent, is included within the inventive scope of thepresent disclosure.

Also, the technology described herein may be embodied as a method, ofwhich at least one example has been provided. The acts performed as partof the method may be ordered in any suitable way unless otherwisespecifically noted. Accordingly, embodiments may be constructed in whichacts are performed in an order different than illustrated, which mayinclude performing some acts simultaneously, even though shown assequential acts in illustrative embodiments.

The indefinite articles “a” and “an,” as used herein in thespecification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to thecontrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.” As used herein inthe specification and in the claims, “or” should be understood to havethe same meaning as “and/or” as defined above. For example, whenseparating items in a list, “or” or “and/or” shall be interpreted asbeing inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, but also includingmore than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally,additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary,such as “only one of” or “exactly one of” will refer to the inclusion ofexactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, theterm “or” as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicatingexclusive alternatives (i.e. “one or the other but not both”) whenpreceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of,” “only oneof,” or “exactly one of.”

As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “atleast one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should beunderstood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more ofthe elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including atleast one of each and every element specifically listed within the listof elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the listof elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally bepresent other than the elements specifically identified within the listof elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether relatedor unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as anon-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently, “atleast one of A or B,” or, equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) canrefer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including morethan one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements otherthan B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally includingmore than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elementsother than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionallyincluding more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including morethan one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of generating models for immobilizationmolds, comprising: identifying, by a computing system, a scan dataderived from a subject for which a mold is to be created; generating, bythe computing system, using at least a portion of the scan data, a firstmodel of the mold to define an imprint along a side in which the subjectis to enter the mold; modifying, by the computing system, the firstmodel by removing at least one protrusion into the imprint along theside to obtain a second model of the mold; and providing, by thecomputing system, the second model to a mold generator to create themold in accordance with the second model.
 2. The method of claim 1,further comprising identifying, by the computing system, within thefirst model of the mold, a portion at which to insert an accessory tothe mold, the accessory comprising at least one of a tensioner, ananchoring mechanism, a sensor, a probe, or a treatment applicationdevice, and wherein modifying the first model further comprisesmodifying the portion of the first model in which the accessory is to beinserted.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: identifying, bythe computing system, a section of the first model for the mold about afirst axis along which the side is defined; and determining, by thecomputing system, an extremum within the imprint in the section relativeto the first axis, and wherein generating the first model furthercomprises defining the imprint about a second axis intersecting thefirst axis by removing a portion from the section of the first modelfrom the extremum relative to the second axis.
 4. The method of claim 1,further comprising: identifying, by the computing system, a section ofthe first model for the mold about an axis along which the side isdefined; and determining, by the computing system, an extremum withinthe imprint in the section relative to the axis as the at least oneprotrusion.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: identifying,by the computing system, a plurality of openings defining the imprint inthe first model of the mold; and determining, by the computing system,for each opening of the plurality of openings, a plurality ofprotrusions into a respective opening of the plurality of openings. 6.The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying, by the computingsystem, a manufacturing modality of the mold generator, themanufacturing modality comprising at least one of a subtractivemanufacturing or an additive manufacturing, and wherein generatingfurther comprises generating the first model in accordance with themanufacturing modality of the mold generator.
 7. The method of claim 1,further comprising applying, by the computing system, prior togenerating the first model, a filter on corresponding to the scan datato smooth a three-dimensional model of the subject.
 8. The method ofclaim 1, wherein generating the first model further comprises definingthe imprint along the side by subtracting a composite spacecorresponding to the scan data from a composite space corresponding tothe mold of the first model.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein modifyingthe first model further comprises removing the at least one protrusioninto the imprint relative to an axis intersecting with a plane of theside of the mold and about which the imprint is defined.
 10. The methodof claim 1, wherein identifying the scan data further comprisesacquiring, via an image device, a three-dimensional scan of the subject,the imaging device comprising at least one of: an opticalthree-dimensional scanner, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner,or a computed tomography (CT) scanner.
 11. A system for generatingmodels for immobilization molds, comprising: a computing system havingone or more processors coupled with memory, configured to: identify ascan data derived from a subject for which a mold is to be created;generate, using at least a portion of the scan data, a first model ofthe mold to define an imprint along a side in which the subject is toenter the mold; modify the first model by removing at least oneprotrusion into the imprint along the side to obtain a second model ofthe mold; and provide the second model to a mold generator to create themold in accordance with the second model.
 12. The system of claim 11,wherein the computing system is further configured to: identify, withinthe first model of the mold, a portion at which to insert an accessoryto the mold, the accessory comprising at least one of a tensioner, ananchoring mechanism, a sensor, a probe, or a treatment applicationdevice, and modify the portion of the first model in which the accessoryis to be inserted.
 13. The system of claim 11, wherein the computingsystem is further configured to: identify a section of the first modelfor the mold about a first axis along which the side is defined; anddetermine an extremum within the imprint in the section relative to thefirst axis, and define the imprint about a second axis intersecting thefirst axis by removing a portion from the section of the first modelfrom the extremum relative to the second axis.
 14. The system of claim11, wherein the computing system is further configured to: identify asection of the first model for the mold about an axis along which theside is defined; and determine an extremum within the imprint in thesection relative to the axis as the at least one protrusion.
 15. Thesystem of claim 11, wherein the computing system is further configuredto: identify a plurality of openings defining the imprint in the firstmodel of the mold; and determine, for each opening of the plurality ofopenings, a plurality of protrusions into a respective opening of theplurality of openings.
 16. The system of claim 11, wherein the computingsystem is further configured to: identify a manufacturing modality ofthe mold generator, the manufacturing modality comprising at least oneof a subtractive manufacturing or an additive manufacturing, andgenerate the first model in accordance with the manufacturing modalityof the mold generator.
 17. The system of claim 11, wherein the computingsystem is further configured to apply, prior to generating the firstmodel, a filter on corresponding to the scan data to smooth athree-dimensional model of the subject.
 18. The system of claim 11,wherein the computing system is further configured to define the imprintalong the side by subtracting a composite space corresponding to thescan data from a composite space corresponding to the mold of the firstmodel.
 19. The system of claim 11, wherein the computing system isfurther configured to remove the at least one protrusion into theimprint relative to an axis intersecting with a plane of the side of themold and about which the imprint is defined.
 20. The system of claim 11,wherein the computing system is further configured to acquire, via animage device, a three-dimensional scan of the subject, the imagingdevice comprising at least one of: an optical three-dimensional scanner,a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner, or a computed tomography(CT) scanner.